Signal lamp



SIGNAL LAMP 2 Sheets-Shea*v Patented Def. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES IILLARD F. BQEBLING, OF CINCINNATI, 4(JHIO.

SIGNAL LAMP.

Application tiled September 2, 1919. Serial No. 321,215.

To all fwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mmmm) F. Rosanne,

- a citizen of the United States. residing at provide an improved si Cincinnati. in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in portable electric light and. signal apparatus. One of its objects is toprovide an improved signal apparatus for use on automobiles and Another object is to al light which -may also be conveniently used as a portable or trouble light. Another object is to provide an improved signal light and automatic of? and on Aswitch mechanism therefor. Another object is to provide an improved signal light r spot-light and improved take-up meansfor the lamp cord. Another object is to provide an improved signal light giving out a plurality of light pencils for signal purposes. Another object is to provide an improved signal light readily detachable when required. M v invention also comprises certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanving drawings, in which:v

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating m v improved signal and portable light apparatus applied to an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view of the automatic switch and lamp cord take-11p casing detached.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the switch and take-up apparatus within said casing. with the front of the casing detached.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail through the switch and take-up casing on line 4 4 of Fig. 3l

' Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is sectional detail through the. signal light, and illustrating a modification of Fig. 5.

Fig.. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 also illustrating a modification.

Fig. 8 is a plan lview of the signal light. illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram.

rlhe accompanving drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of my invention. in which. Figs.- 1 tto 4. A represents the steering wheel of an automobile. and B represents the side door of-the automobile adjacent to for similar purposes.

the steering wheel. A casing D is preferably detachably connected to the door B. and is provided with binding osts 14 and 15 by means of which it may e connected into an electric circuit 16, of a storage battery or 'set of dr)y cells for instance, suitable for energizing the signal light 17. The light 17 is preferablycf the incandescent type. and mounted detachablv in a housing. 1S having a lamp socket 19, a colored lens or plate 20 through which a colored light pencil issues when the light 17 is in circuit` and a port 21 through which a white pencil ot light may also issue when the light 17 is in circuit.' The lens 20 is preferably mounted in a cap 2Q which is hinged to-tbe casing or housing 1S at one side and provided with a spring latch 23 at the opposite side. whereb v the cap ma \y be opened to give access to the interior of the housing 18, as for instance to insert or remove the light 17. The port .21 may be glazed if desired, and is preferably provided with a hood 24 to prevent dillusion of the light ravs issuing therethrough. The housing 18 is preferably encased in leather or similar protecting inaterial. and attached to the wrist or back of the hand ot the operator of the steering wheel, pre-ferabl)y substantiall)T in the same manner as a wrist watch is attached. exceptthat it is attached so as to bc readily and quickly detached should it become necessary. As illustrated in Figs. 1.6. 7, and the. casing or housing 1S is carried b v a leather band 25 provided at one end with a small projection or knob 26. and at the other end .with a corresponding socket 9T to dctachably engage said knob, thereb) providing for quickly detaching the band 25 from the wrist. As illustrated in Fig. 5, a resilient metal band Q51 is employed to hold the housing 18 in place upon the wrist. and to enable .it to be quickly detached if necessary.

Mounted within the casing l) is a drum 28 ou which is wound a considerable length ot lamp cord 29. tbc respective .terminals of said cord at the inner end being attached electrically to the terminals 30 and 31 of said drum Q8- 'lhe opposite end of the lamp cord passes out of the casing D through ics an c ve 32 in an electrical switch lever 33,

ratingrg insulating the .tern'linalsqf3Qgand' g. ,l 1);., .while the.. otliernplate .f 38.: is pro-j iiifithe .linkt-3 6, iwhich 1.; foi-ins rfa jour-nal for to l 'the renibleplate; of.; thefcasing D.

coiledspring 143 isinouizited upon and tachednilhone end by a.:son:wornprmection' the un p i cordes. .unnuund from the d mung;

the coiled spring l f, placed-.under -tens'ornl aiidyvhen. strain `on .the cord is 1rehevedthe Spring, ufotatcsthe drum- 28fto'igren'indfthe .employed attacljied tofthe plfitellZ of Casi-ng limiti. the@unwindinir` .of -`rthe linii.tstheE amount thereof which .may be wound .uponf: I he; Arum, due; z to .said. .stop

hnotbelnie. ahleftogpassithe eye in the hood- 35 and. out ofy `engagement :with f the' blades off a. switclrv member 48-to open: and close'the cixienitg16.-.-Fromrthc binding post 14 the circuit inside-the casing D v is to they stud shaftfil thence through .plate 38 to termin-'il .t 3.1 throughthelamp cord lto fthelight '17. 'and. thence returning through thev lamp cord tocircuitterminnl 3,0, thence ley-tite plate 37 and-socket 39,'toswitch membei L18, and thence when the switch is closet?` by the "f switch lever 38 to its support 47, and thence to the binding .post 15` see Finse. 5. and 9.

The casing D is preferaliwly constructed from.

so1ne=insnlating material. as for instance vulcanized.libcr,or hardwood.. u

In operation.the position 01. the hand as indicated in dot-ted line Fifrf 1. upon the steering Wheel shifts the switch'lever 33,

.due tothe tension of the lamp cord thereon,

to .a .position outof engagement with the terminal 48. thereby holding the. circuit 16 open. When it is desired to signal the direction to.be. taken at vastreet` intersection the handtis,A thrown out as indicated invull line,

therebv causincr the tension of the lamp cord unon the'y switch lever 33 to be reversed to thereby automatically hringthie switch lever 33into. engagement Awith the switch memher 48 to close the circuit 16 and illuminate the lamp 17..causin 9: a pencil' 50 of ysay red light to be directed rearwardly to warn any automobile-in the rea-r of d stop or turn geht-nitnitide.hlso through the port Ziofthe housing 18 is directed a encil 5l of'ivhite light upon the beck of t e hand` Whichservesto*illuminate vthe hand and enable the party in the rear or following machine to observe-the signa-1 made b'yffthe hand; Also :Where-!v a portable Jlight f' Aor trouble light isfreqnired, a sufiicient length o'f lamp.- cordris 'available to: enable the'zop'er-i alori to carry the 4housing .18, on' his fwristf'r 75 otherwisetogpractically any partiofthe'azu'tol mobile` and? lthe ,direct white" 'light tllirough the mort; 21 f u pon theipar'tsj to' "be"t examined, or if desiredthecapfmay 15e-thrown v'oien and sa pencil obwhitec-light lint-place of "the 80 pencil fof' colored 1 f light@ directed fup'orr' Itheohject :to he examined. Eithe`1"tjipe Qzfsi'gi nalli-ght" .may be wreadily* an'dfquicklyf detached Avfrom.'theLvi/rist i-'Teqii-e'g'ifA Iii the electric bulbs lantlf'i'ione {3W-'s .plyfa pencil..A of 'coloredl lighjfin'd th "o't't'ti 'furnish a pencils of i'whlteflifght, fsadlhilb's" beingvl mounted inseparatesocketsf-alnd con@ l nected inthe-circuitn lsc'niesij if" isi'led 90 innparallel. :il: Azthurnb-'screw jthi'adedtothe casi D vand :passing through afslot 59 in tlie'rhtod 35px-ondes foricla'rnpiipir saidf'hodtftlje' casing so as to' holdthelarnfvcrd't) 95 .extrelmity o their movemntififeilatitie "to; the opening: 34 in theca`sng: Dfa'idftherehv provides for the current beingz fnos'itivelyfcut outl of' the lamp circuit; forL Apositively" fed through' the lamp, as for? in'stancevvhen lused asa.trouhle lamp or'sr'iot-light.

The lamp 17' of Fig. 6, or eitheruof'the lam-ps of Fifi'. 7 mav'he conveiiie'ntljiv` nsed'as a spot-light in passing obgtructi'ons,.and on 105 narrow rondenl and forfsich purpose the cap 20 may be' onenedfandtheflain used on either` side of ythe car, and turned inlanv direction. front. rear, or sides. 'While' still attached to the hand. or if desired may be readilv detached while being used. for such pun'pose. It may Vfurtherhe ven'iploved 'convenienti;7 under any` circumstances where the head or side lightsfailltolfurnishthe illumination desired. as for linstance as an mi emergency light to reach a renair station where the head and side, lights fail vfrom any cause. lt ma;l also lheernplo'yedvas a dashlight.`

The apparatus herein illustrated and dem0 scribed is capable of considerable'inodication without departing from the principle of mv invention.v

What l' claim is:` 4 f l f 1. Aisgnal apparatus cmprising a port-` ahle signal lamp. a lamncord, awindine drum under tension on which said lamn cord is wound. an electric circuit in which said lamp and cord are included. and a switch lever to open and close said circuit,-

said switch lever being engaged bj said lampcoi'd and a-iitomaticzillj.' actuated ily movement of said lmnp cord due to shifting "lamp-to seid drum, `an electric circuit in which said lamp and cord are included, and

. an electric switch lever in saidcincuit en- I eol drum under tension on which said lamp cord gaged by the lamp cord under tension connecting the cperators wrist with said windingdrum vtc autcmaticcily actuate said switch lever upon changing the position of said lamp from one side to the other of said switch. I

3. A signal apparatus conriprisiirg` a portable signal lamp, a lamp cord, a winding is. wound, an electric circuit in which said lamp andlcord are included, end a switch lever to open and close said circuit having an eye through whichsiiid lamp cord is threaded and whichswitch lever is actuated through said lamp cord by changes in the.

' 'position of said lamp from one side to the other of said switch.

- 4. A vehicle signal apparatus comprising a .portable lamp, a lamp ccrd, e. lamp casing, means for detachably attaching the lamp casing to the wrist of an cpercior, an electric circuit for seid lamp including said' lamp and lamp carried by said vehicle, and-a switch in said circuit carried rigidi?r b said vehicle and actuated c f 'movement o said lamp cord in changing t e gccsiticn of said lamp from chel side to the other cf said switch.

5. A signal apparatus comprising a portebie signal lamp, a lamp cord, a. winding drum having terminais insulated from each other and sup rted under tension to the terminals of w ich said lamp cord is con nected at one end, an electric circuit in cord, and e. source of currentf whiclrsaid lamp, lamp cord; and drum are included, and a mechanism tending't normally tc open said circuit said switch mechanism being enga ed hy said lamp cord under tension from sai drum' to automatically close said circuit yieldingly energized switchl when the lamp is shifted to oneside of said switch mechanism.

6. A vehicle signal apparatus comprising a portable lamp', a lamp cord, a lamp casing, an electric circuit for said lamp includn ing said lam rent carried E said vehicle, a switch in said circuit carried rigidly by said vehicle and actuated by movement of said lamp cord in changes in the position' cf said lamp to one eide, or the other of said switch, and means tc ositively lock seid switch in one ositioii. i testimony whereof I have a xed my signature.'

and cord and e, source of cur- 

